Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park sprawls across the continental divide a couple hours northwest of the greater Denver area. In addition to containing the headwaters of the Colorado River, Rocky Mountain is a World Biosphere Reserve site, and contains numerous species from the lower elevation montane ecosystems to high up the mountains in the alpine tundra, including at least 14 species on the endangered list.

While the park may be most visited in the summer, key parts of the park remain open year-round and are ideal for a variety of snow sports. I visited on a snowy night in early December, where temperatures dipped to around 15 degrees Fahrenheit and five or six inches of beautiful fresh snow were dropped, leaving behind a perfectly sunny morning.

Morning at the Moraine Park campground, which remains open year-round.